They had given up hope. They had been a part of what they thought was a movement. Not only that, they had personally known the head of the movement. He would change the world, but then it had all fallen apart—his arrest, trial, and death on a Roman cross. This wasn’t how the story was supposed to end. Now what?

The characters found in Luke 24 were trying to move on with life after Jesus’ death. They were literally on the road, walking away from it all. They didn’t know what else to do. It’s on that hopeless road that Jesus shows up and begins to trickle hope back into their souls. They didn’t recognize him, but his words started to pull together their shattered dreams. When Jesus finally reveals himself to them, it’s just for a moment before he vanishes. Then, they express what they had been feeling along the road.

‘They asked each other, “Were not our hearts burning within us while he talked with us on the road and opened the Scriptures to us?” ‘Luke 24:32

Their hearts were burning as Jesus taught them because the stories he told them meant that the dream wasn’t dead. Instead, the story was just beginning.

You were made for a grand story too. Did you know that? We all want to be a part of something significant. That isn’t a selfish desire; it is a God-designed desire because he did make us for something meaningful. He made us to partner with him; bring his goodness to the world. That story is the only big enough and true enough story to feed every human desire. That is the story that makes your heart burn. You may not know it yet, but your heart awakens when it hears the story that God is writing.

This story is an invitation to hope again. Have you given up on living a grand story? Have you given up on being a part of something genuinely significant? This story is about two characters finding out that hope isn’t dead; it’s alive. There is hope for us too.

Take a moment to ask yourself what hopes you have let die. God may not be reviving your dream the way you wish or imagined. Instead, he may be telling you that an even better hope is alive and well. Does your heart burn for that?